Fox Firms Up 'Planet Of The Apes' Prequel

LOS ANGELES (May 6, 2010) __ Twentieth Century Fox has set a June 24, 2011 release for RISE OF THE APES, a completely new take on one of the Studio’s most beloved and successful franchises. Oscar®-winning visual effects house WETA Digital – employing certain of the groundbreaking technologies developed for AVATAR – will render, for the first time ever in the film series, photo-realistic apes rather than costumed actors.

Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark will produce for Chernin Entertainment under its new pact with Fox. Acclaimed filmmaker Rupert Wyatt (“The Escapist”) is directing from a screenplay by Amanda Silver & Rick Jaffa, who also are producing.

RISE OF THE APES (tentative title) is an origin story in the truest sense of the term. Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.

Ha ha, you caught me. I am in business school. I should clarify “stupid” to mean “predictable” and “pathetic” to “uncreative.” But I guess that’s what you get when you have MBAs making development decisions. Good thing I’m getting mine.

Darren • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

Greg, unless they destroy the original film prints, what’s the harm in allowing technology a crack at updating a beloved classic. You need to understand that studios are driven by “profit”, not critical praise of development decisions. Sadly you won’t have access to the dailies for the film, but I promise to keep a creative eye on the prize for you. Had a rad summer.

BlueBeard • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

Did a Jump to Conclusions Mat come with your acceptance letter to business school?

You’ve read no script and have no clue about the art direction or tone of the movie, yet you’ve called it pathetic and uncreative. Pray tell, what other than a half completed business degree gives your opinion any clout?

It’s being developed by Peter Chernin and it’s his first big movie announcement. It’s obviously going to be very calculated and safe move that will guarantee returns (probably in light of Clash of the Titan’s success). Obviously those MBA classes are paying off.

Also, might I remind you how many Oscars Fox is responsible for in the past 5 years (Fox Searchlight IS in their umbrella).

Really?! • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

The big kid in me just said, “Wow, that’s kinda cool!”

Brian • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

I agree. It ought to be called “The Milking of th Apes.” This story was done in the 4th and 5th movies. Pierre Boule must be spinning in his grave.

Had much more faith in this when Scott Frank was involved. At least it sounds like they’re keeping it socially relevant…though I’ll bet they’ll soft-pedal it. (If you really want to keep the spirit of the original, you’d have to be willing to piss off part of the audience, and these days Fox would NEVER allow that).

neil brimelow • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

A PREQUEL to “Planet of the Apes?” Who’s the audience for this movie?

The Ghost of Garry Moore • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

CGI chimps? Jeezus, why not just do the whole damn thing CGI? Why bother with live-action actors at all?

Based on the fact it is using such high tech special effects I’m surprised it has a 2011 release date when it hasn’t even started filming yet. This tells me that either Fox is paying a crap load to get the effects done in time or there won’t be many effects in the film, namely we don’t see the apes until the end of the movie and the film actually will have a sequel that will actually tie this film with the original Planet of the Apes.

gigaman • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

Wow, just wow! This is gonna be terrible. Don’t think if Arthur P. Jacobs were alive today, he’d be too pleased.

I’ll never forget my Mom and I watching the original in a theater. I was so impressionable as a kid that somehow, I thought it was real. That final image of the Statue of Liberty freaked me out so much that I had to talk it up in the school yard the next day. Talk about “word of mouth”.

Bright Eyes • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

Call me crazy, but whatever problems the earlier “Apes” films had, lack of photo-realistic sfx was not one of them. I hope they are putting as much effort into the story as they are with the makeup & effects — but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Elaine Robinson • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

The future is here. Long live the apes. I am looking forward to a new apes movie. It will be different not having actors in costume.

Rikki • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

CGI? They already killed the film.
The Original look from the 70’s films is the only look for Planet of the apes.Tim Burton messed it up as well.

Robertjm • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

Tonight I’m watching the 1998 documentary about the original Planet of the Apes movies. A classic still every time it’s run. Tim Burton’s show was interesting, and I was actually waiting to see what kind of sequel would come out that took off from the steps of the “Thade Memorial.”

Now, not only do I read that it’s going to be a prequel, but they’re messing with the original idea that we enslaved normal apes, and instead we create these intelligent apes in a test tube. AND to top it off the apes shall all be cgi-based. ARGH!!!

Vin • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

Man! I hope they do a good job on this. Personaly I think they should remake all the Planet Of the Apes films! As long as they stick to the original theme and even script. Modern technical advances could make the franchise truly relevant to those who aren’t even aware of the original series or turned off by the cheesy special effects. The way to make it sucsessful if to realize what made the original so special and important-the script! The amazing story that was being told and the social commentary it held. This is where Mr. Burton failed and I hope the new filmakers will triumph!

Elizabeth Chavez • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

If Mark Walberg is no in the sequel will not bother to go see it!!!!

Glenn Reed • on May 6, 2010 3:15 pm

Wouldn’t it be nice if the “Major” studios would stop trying to milk the classic movies of the past and actually produce new and interesting films?

Hey studio execs, wanna know why theaters and the movie industry in general are going down the tubes? Because you produce/rehash crap movies that NOBODY WANTS TO PAY 20 BUCKS A TICKET TO SEE.

It’s not a big mystery and you don’t need an MBA to figure it out. Remember that little nugget they taught you the first day in business school about supply and demand? Well, what does it take for you to realize nobody is demanding what you’re currently supplying?

Here’s a wild suggestion. If you’re SO very confident in the value and worthiness of your movie, name it something else. If it is a truly great movie, it will stand on it’s own merits. Stop trying to cash in on the hard work and creativity of other people.

Sorry to spout off about a movie I’ve neither seen a script or trailer for, but I’m having nightmare flashbacks about a giant lizard movie that some mindless studio hack slapped the name Godzilla on. Yeah, you were going to improve that concept with cool CGI effects too. Here’s another free pearl of wisdom. Amazing CGI effects DO NOT make a good movie. They make a good movie better. If the movie is a steaming pile of crap before the CGI it’ll still be a steaming pile after the CGI wizards are done.

Out of respect for the majority of Tim Burton’s work I won’t even mention the Debasement of the Apes.

Finally, please, please, leave the classics alone and in the words of Lloyd Kaufman “MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN MOVIE.”